Gossip

In our churches today, Satan has entrapped us by getting us accustomed to gossip that it's nearly something to be expected, and we probably wouldn't admit it's gossip, because we all know how 'sinful' gossip is! We'd cover it up by saying, "Hey, did you hear the latest news about so-and-so? They..." I have heard some people say, "Did you hear the latest gossip?" But wow! They were very brave to say that. Obviously it didn't face them to actually admit they were gossiping, either they had worn their conscience thin or they were never taught in the first place that gossip is wrong.

Now if you knew me well, I wouldn't have to say this... But I hate gossip, I guess I've had enough people believe everything they hear about me and well, it makes for some bad attitudes and such like. Even when a person doesn't believe it, but comes and asks you about it anyway- either it'll make you cry or laugh that there's such a messed up story out about you.  

For example, I'll use the most recent story out about me- one that really cracks me up- it's so off the wall something I wouldn't even consider doing. That's why it's so funny...

Yesterday morning when I took the guys to school we noticed that someone had done donuts in the middle of the parking lot. It was perfect conditions! Snowy, icy... Yeah, I agree, it probably was very fun! The boys desperately wanted me to, but... I didn't feel like being stupid. 

(Now if you take that as me thinking you're stupid if you do, DON'T! That's not what I'm meaning! I understand guys like having fun & that's part of it!) 

And then last night at PTA mtg.- 

In which I had no desire of going to, but didn't feel like keeping the boys occupied for the whole evening- 

nearly everyone had left and the principal was rounding up his kiddos- after he had finished putting on his son's jacket he turned around a just stood there- yeah, that awkward moment- when you know you should say something and you just don't know what to say! Then he gets this funny grin on his face and says,"Heard you were writing your signature out there in the snow on the driveway!" I probably gave him the blankest look- I'm like What!? I'm so lost, what are you trying to get at? Then he says, pointing at his wife, "Yeah, that's what her dad called it." I probably got an even blanker expression on my face but at least I was innocent! :) Then he said, "Your brother was telling us about how you were doing donuts on the drive this morning." And I'm thinking, "Yeah right! In his wildest dream I did donuts on the school parking lot!" 

As it turned out- my brother did not say anything about ME doing donuts in the parking lot, except that he wanted me too, after seeing someone else had done it. And the story got messed up, and they believed I was the one doing the donuts! 

No, it didn't hurt me, but it sure was funny!! 

I had to think about all the stories I may have passed around in my lifetime that sounded true, but were a little tweaked, and they sounded just a little better if I emphasized the RIGHT words. (or should that be the WRONG words!?) :) No, I didn't really changed the story, and I didn't know if the story was exactly true, but, it sounded like something they would do and so I believed it and passed it on to my other friends who would like to hear this "amazing" story about so-and-so... And then it went on down the line and got those overly emphasized words changed to a synonym that made it sound a little worse, maybe a minor detail changed slightly, and then when it comes back to the person who started the story or even the victim of the story, it can hurt them very much. Especially if they're the kind to get hurt easily. 

 And in the case of the story above- he probably didn't change a thing. But he misunderstood what was being said and I guess I could've let it hurt me, but what would be the point? It would only result in a bad attitude towards him & I don't think that's the way a Christian is suppose to live- actually  I KNOW that's the not the way. We are to love each other, and when you have a bad attitude-- you may-as-well plan on saying good-bye to love!

   As for me- I have gotten myself hurt, others hurt, and even my authorities hurt by trying to stop gossip, but I know that I was trying to save the person from the embarrassment. I don't care how true the story was, I don't want that person hurting any more than they are! Many people gossip about people they cannot stand and so they're attitude towards them only gets uglier. 

We can stop gossip if we determine in our hearts to not spread everything we hear about a person. It can hurt you both AND it also gives them the licence to spread ugly stories about you.

Happy Valentines!

Woke up to hear the snow hitting my window.

This drift is right outside the patio door- it's probably about 3' high!

Got the coffee brewing and turned on some classical music- no, I don't often listen to classical, but it seemed to fit the occasion.) In the process it dawned on me that tomorrow is Valentines and I had promised Mom that I would do supper. (That's kind of the tradition- I've done that for as long as I can remember- last year we waited to eat till 8:30pm because Dad got held up where he was loading up- so many good trucking memories!) So I grabbed out my pen and paper to plan my meal...

And although much of what I had wanted to make, I can't. And although, my plans were changed after my memory was refreshed that I again have to head to Pittsburgh- and can't do my meal tomorrow- I'm sure I'll enjoy valentines- with my Dad! :) (He's the best guy in the world, and even though he's a farmer now, and sometimes he comes home smelling like the cows- I will always love him so much! Whether trucks, cows, or carpentry!)

Hope y'all have a wonderful Valentines! 

Stained Glass Masquerade

Is there anyone that fails?

Is there anyone that falls?

Am I the only one in church today feelin' so small?

'Cause when I take a look around

Everybody looks so strong.

I know they'll soon discover

That I don't belong.

So I'll tuck it all away, like everything's okay.

If I make them all believe it, maybe I'll believe it too.

So with a painted grin, I play the part again,

So everyone will see me the way that I see them.

Are we happy plastic people,

Under shiny plastic steeples,

With walls around our weakness,

And smiles to hide our pain?

But if the invitation's open

To every heart that has been broken

Maybe the we close the curtain

On our stained glass masquerade.

Is there anyone who's been there?

Are there any hands to raise?

Am I the only one who's traded 

In the altar for a stage?

The performance is convincing

And we know every line by heart.

Only when no one is watching

Can we really fall apart.

But would it set me free

If I dared to let you see,

The truth behind the person

That you imagined me to be?

Would your arms be open,

Or would you walk away?

Would the love of Jesus

Be enough to make you stay?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRUJrjUGGfg&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Perspectives

 I get annoyed at how people seem to think that some people have life all figured out they have everything at their finger tips and they're just cruising through life like there's nothing to it. But, sad to say, there is people that think like that and they are usually the ones that everyone either look up to or down on those they think are like that, because "they have life better than us". They either are reaching for that goal or saying "Nope, they're crazy, We could never get there, so we aren't gonna be their friend! We need to associate with 'those of our kind.'" Really, What causes issues like that to arise? Is it the comparing- like I talked about on my last post? 

  The truth is that NO ONE has life totally figured out. No one is cruising through life! We all have are ups and downs. AND if you changed your perspective and get to know the person better you'll end up realizing that they aren't as perfect as you thought. They have their days that are bad. They worry about their finances. They have the same problems everyone else faces, but they react differently. They don't get 'all up in the air' and call every person about their financial state and ask for funds to help them get back above the water. They may be broke, have several thousand dollar debts, maybe their mortgage is due and they have no money to pay it, but still they hang on and just wait on God to move. He makes it work out... AND  they didn't cry to their friends about their financial state. 

      Although there isn't usually easy fixes to problems. We usually make them worse by getting ourselves all worked up about them. 

 I once read of a lady who decided that she wasn't going to tell anyone about the mountain she was facing. She desperately wanted to call her best friend, she even picked up the phone several times and dialed her number, but decided this was a journey she was to take by herself. That night as she lay in bed she poured out her heart to God and He answered her prayer the very next day. Isn't our God so amazing that He works every minor detail out for our good? 

 I'm not saying that we should never ask a friend for advice or share our heart with them, but truly I have trained myself (I'm not sure if it's for the good or the bad...) to just keep everything to myself, I start feeling like a bother to everyone when I do tell them whats on my mind.

 And yes, that's what my post was about last time. We have to get over feeling like we are inferior to others. But my human tendency is to hold everything in. And then I explode when something really goes bad. I'm trying to break that, but I tell you. IT'S NOT EASY! Only God can help you through it, no friend is going to be able to help you break that habit. 

 Sometimes when someone asks advice about something- I'd like to give them cold cut, black and white answers. but most times they aren't like that. (Today's world has many grey areas!) I guess I have to agree I take time to think through situations like that. I think and think and sometimes I still don't have answers. Especially when you know the person is not really willing to change the way they think! 

I may make no sense at all, (that's why I call my blog 'My Musings' :D) remember this... 

Even if it looks like someone has everything put together. 

They don't, they just react to difficult situations differently.
Change your perspective- it'll probably make all the difference!

Comparing, Surrendering, & Overcoming

         We often hear people saying, and we read it in the Bible, "Comparing yourselves among yourselves IS NOT WISE." And we all sit back and agree. Shake our heads and maybe even say "Amen." But then go ahead and do it anyway.
         Yeah, I'm not perfect either! I do it too. We walk into a crowd and immediately start comparing everyone. So, I'm better than that person over there, they did this and that and the other thing. But you know that person, yeah, they're really nice. They are so kind and loving, they seem to genuinely love everyone! I love having friends like that- I guess I'm just gonna avoid that other person as much as possible and hang out over here, cause surely I'm better than them and everyone would come in and see me talking to them- I'd get dumped in with that group of naughty little brats too! I don't want to be like that!  
          When we think like that, we feel superior to someone. We feel like we've got everything under control, our ball is rolling smoothly and if we do become "un-proud" enough to go talk to those certain individuals over there... the likely-hood of our ride becoming quite rough is very high!
           But then there's also the aspect that- you walk into a crowd of people and go sit in the corner all by yourself, because you don't feel good enough for any of them. They probably wouldn't have time to hear about all the BORING stuff that happens in my life and everything that interests me, because they are "part of the inside group" and of course, me, nope, I couldn't be part of any inside group if I tried, cause I think differently than everyone else. I like different things... Then we start feeling inferior and tell ourselves we are good-for-nothing jerks.
           The truth is that- We are neither inferior or superior to anyone. God made us all equal and if we are right standing with God. Nothing like that should bother us. I'm not saying we won't be temped to think that, but that is Satan coming to make us feel that way.
           One way to get rid of a thought like that- or any thought that comes creeping in from Satan is, to tell Jesus about it, tell Him, "Jesus, I give You this thought- I surrender it to Your obedience." You may have to do it several times, maybe even all day, hopefully not, but Satan is persistent! He comes slipping in like a lion on our peaceful thoughts and destroys all the peace we once had. It works. I use it, alot. And then Satan still comes in and says, "You're just telling yourself a BIG lie! You are still a GOOD-FOR-NOTHING JERK! No-one could care what happens to you anyway! They don't want to hear anything out of you- just keep your mouth closed and you'll be JUST FINE."
           Say it again, "Jesus, I give you this thought- I surrender it to Your obedience." We are over-comers in Christ. In Him we can do anything!